Nail holder



June 10, 1952 A MCCLUNG 2,599,651

NAIL HOLDER Filed Dec. 15, 1950 Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE NAIL HOLDER Louis A. McClung, Denver, Colo. Application December 15, 1950, Serial No. 200,924 3 Claims. (Cl. 145-30) This invention relates to a nail holder or clamp for attachment to a hammer.

An object of this invention is to provide a nail holder or clamp for attachment to a hammer which is adapted to hold a nail in a driving position wherein the nail can be started into the work by a blow of the hammer, after which the nail may be released fromthe holder or clamp and driven into the work in the usual manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a nail holder or clamp which can be readily attached to any type of hammer and cooperates therewith for supporting the nail to be driven into a piece of work.

A further object of this invention is to provide la nail holder for attachment to a hammer which facilitates the driving of nails into inaccessible places wherein it is ordinarily impossible to hold the nail by hand in position to be driven into the work by the hammer.

`A still further object of this invention is to provide a nail holder for attachment to a hammer which makes it possible for a carpenter to start and drive a nail into a piece of work while in an unhandy or precarious position having only one hand free.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a nail holder or clampV for attachment to a hammer which is relatively simple in structure and cheap to manufacture.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,V

wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the nail holder or clamp of the present invention, shown attached to a plane surface of a hammer head and in a nail receiving position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the nail holder and hammer shown in Figure 1 with the holder in a nail supporting position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the nail holder or clamp of the present invention.

Referring now with particularity to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, there is shown the nail holder or clamp of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral III which is supported on a hammer I I including a handle I2, and a hammer head I3 having at least one plane surface I4.

The holder or clamp I includes a base plate I5 which is fabricated of a resilientl material and is normally arranged in a nail supporting position illustrated in Figure 2 in abutting and confronting relation with respect to the plane surface I4 of the hammer head I 3. The base plate I 5 is provided with a longitudinal slot I6 which extends inwardly from one end thereof and terminates contiguous to and spaced from the other end thereof. The resilience of the base plate I5 and the size of the slot I6 are selected so that nails of various sizes can be embracingly received and gripped within the slot I6. The base plate I5 is preferably fabricated of a springy metal which is durable enough to withstand long hard use without breaking. The base plate I5 is further provided with a transversely extending bolt receiving aperture I'I which is spaced from the terminating end of the slot I B.

Extending through the bolt receiving aperture I 'I of the base plate I5 is a bolt 2l) which is rotatably supported within the hammer head I3 and mounts the base plate I5 for movement from the nail supporting position illustrated in Figure 2 to the nail receiving position illustrated in Figure 1 with the open end of the slot I 5 projecting beyond the plane surface I4 for the insertion therethrough of a nail to be driven into the piece of work. The bolt 20 includes a threaded shank 2 I which is received within an oppositely threaded bore 22 provided in the plane surface I4 of the hammer head I3 and a multi-sided head 23 arranged exteriorly of the base plate I5.

Operatively connected to the assembly of the base plate I5 and the bolt 20 is a catch and lock element 25 which non-rotatably secures the assembly of the bolt 25 and the base plate I5 together and engages within a depression 26 provided in the plane surface I4 for holding the base plate I5 in the nail supporting position illustrated in Figure 2. As clearly shown in Figure 3 the base plate and the plane surface I4 of the hammer head I3 cooperate in the nail supporting position of the base plate to support a nail in a driving position with the head thereof disposed intermediate the abutting and confronting surfaces of the hammer head I3 and the base plate I5. The catch and lock element 25 is fabricated of a resilient material and includes an elongated lbody 21 having an end portion in the form of a circular lock washer 28 provided with a centrally disposed aperture 29 for the extension therethrough of the shank 2I of the bolt 20. The lock Washer 28 is adapted to be arranged between the head 23- of the bolt 2D and the portions of the base plate I5 bounding the bolt receiving aperture Il and is formed contiguous to the adjacent end of the body 2l with an abutment 3U which bears against one side of the multi-sided head 23 for holding the bolt 20 against rotation with respect to the catch and lock element 25. The

other end portion of the body 21 is formed with an elongated arm SI which is adapted to overlie a portion of the slot I6 contiguous to the terminating end thereof. Secured to or formed integrally with the arm 3l is a depending ear 32 Which extends transversely through the slot I6 contiguous to and spaced from the open end thereof and is engageable Within 'the depression 26 for holding the base plate l5 in the nail supporting position illustrated in Figure 2.

For actually mount-ing the nail holder on the hammer head 53 any plane surface of the hammer is selected and provided with a threaded bore 22 for the reception of the threaded shank 2i of the bolt 29. The bolt Zisthent-ightened down until the base plate l is arranged in confronting and abutting relation with respect to the plane surface i4 with the catch and lock element 25 interposed bet-Ween the head ,23 of -thebolt and the exterior surface of the base plate i5. It isV to be noted that the length ofthe depending `catch .or ear 32 .is selected so that the 4freerend thereof Will engage Within the depression whenthe base plate l5 is in .the nail holding yor supporting position illustrated in Figure 2.

In actual use, the assembly of the .bolt lthe base plate `E 5 and the catch andlock element 25, are rotated to the nail receiving positionillustratedrin Figure l. The nail is ythenin-serted within the open end of the slot ifi with theLnail head interposed between the abutting and confronting surfaces of the base plate l5 rand .the plane surface ld oi the hammer head -he `assembly is then rotated to the nail supporting position illustrated in Figure 2 and held therein by the depending ear or catch 32 which engages Within the depression 20. The resilience of the catch and lock element assures the maintenance of the catch Within the depression 2B yet permits the assembly Vof .the base plate, bolt .and the catch and loch `element to be rotated to the position illustrated in Figure l. Upon swingthe hammer, a nail can be started into the Work lafter the nail can `be released from the holder.

Although one embodiment of the nail holder or clamp of the present invention has 4been -described, it is readily apparent that numerous mcdiiications can bemade Without departing from the Vspirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

15A nail holder for attachment to a hammer head including a plane surface comprising a baseplate fabricated of resilient material arranged in a nail supporting position in labutting and confronting relation with respect to said plane surface, said base plate beingY provided with a longitudinally extending slot having an open-fend for embracingly receiving a nail, bolt means extending transversely through said base plate and rotatably supported in saidhammer head `for mounting said base plate for movement from said nail supporting position to a nail receiving position with the open'end of the slot yprojecting beyond said plane surface for the insertion therethrough of the nail, and a catch and lool: means operatively connected to the assembly of said base plate and .bolt for nonrotatably securing said assembly together and engageable Within a depression provided in said pla-ne surface for holding said base plate in said naily supporting position wherein said plane surface and base plate cooperate to support the nail in a Vdriving position, said catch and lock means including an elongated body having one end formed into a depending ear extending transversely through said slot contiguous to and spaced from the open end thereof.

` including a multi-sided head extending transversely through said base plate and rotatably 4supported in said hammer head for mounting said base` plate for movement from said nail supporting position to a nail receiving position With the open end of the slot projecting beyond said plane surface for the insertion therethrough of thenail, and a catch and lock meansoperatively connected to `the assembly of said .base plate andbolt .for non-rotatably securing-said assembly together and engageable Within a depression .provided in said plane surface for holding said base plate in said nail supporting position .whereinxsaid plane surface and base plate cooperate to support the nail in a drivingvposition, said catch and lock means including an elongated body having one end formed into an abutment bearing against one side of said multisided head.

3. A nail holder for attachment to a hammer head including a plane surface comprising a base plate fabricated of resilient material arranged in a nail supporting position in abutting and confronting relation With respect to said plane surface, said base plate being provided with a longitudinally extending` slot having an open end for embracingly receiving a nail, bolt means including a multi-sided head extending transversely through said base plate and rotatably supported-'in said hammer head for mounting said base plate for movement from said nail supporting position to a nail receiving position with the open end of the slot projecting beyond said plane vsurface for the insertion therethrough'of the nail, and a catch and lock means operatively connected to the assembly of said base plate and bolt for non-rotatably securing said assembly together and engageable Within a depression provided in said plane surface for holding said base plate in said nail supporting position wherein said plane surface and base plate cooperate to support the nail in a driving position, said catch and lock means including an elongated body having one end formed into an abutment bearing against one side of said multi-sided head, the other end of said body being formed into a depending ear extending transversely through said slot contiguous to and spaced from said one end thereof and selectively engageable within said depression. Y

LOUIS A. MCCLUNG.

REFERENCES 'CTED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name `Date 21,820 Clark Oct. 19, 11858 193,967 Knight Aug. r7, 1877 595,015 Driller Dec. 7, 1897 689,631 Carlisle Apr. 29, V1902 '704,006 Dempsey July, 1902 729,890 Peek June 2, 1903 869,835 Fowler Oct. 29, 1907 1,695,339 Lockhead Dec. 18, 1928 

